Pune : The Maharashtra government has imposed a ₹10 lakh fine on Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital after a probe found it guilty of violating key provisions of the Maharashtra State Public Charitable Trust Scheme in connection with the tragic death of a pregnant woman, Tanisha Bhise.
Bhise allegedly died after being denied admission to the hospital when her family could not immediately deposit a ₹10 lakh advance, despite her critical condition.
The inquiry, led by Joint Charity Commissioner Rajni Kshirsagar, concluded that the hospital breached Clause III of a government resolution issued on April 4, which clearly mandates that no advance payment be demanded in emergency situations, and life-saving treatment must be provided without delay.
The committee’s report, submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday, emphasized that the hospital’s actions were in direct violation of Section 41AA of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. This section requires all charitable hospitals with annual expenses over ₹5 lakh to allocate 2% of their billing towards an Indigent Patients’ Fund (IPF), to ensure care for economically weaker patients.
The probe also revealed that the hospital failed to utilize the IPF as intended, further undermining its legal and ethical responsibilities as a charitable institution.
“The refusal to provide timely medical intervention not only violated public trust norms but also led to a tragic and preventable death, highlighting deep systemic failures in protecting the rights of underprivileged patients,” the committee observed.
The state government will deposit ₹5 lakh each from the imposed fine into fixed deposit accounts for Tanisha Bhise’s twin daughters, with the funds accessible once they turn 18. Their medical expenses until then will be covered by the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
